Bali bombing witness recalls night of horror
Bali bombing witness recalls night of horror
Wahyoe Boediwardhana and I Wayan Juniartha, The Jakarta Post,
Denpasar, Bali
Grief and sadness marked the trial on Wednesday for the Bali
bombings, as one of the heroes who led the disaster's rescue
efforts cried during his testimony, apparently agonized by the
horror he saw and the lives he was unable to safe.
Agus Bambang described the horror of the bombing scene minutes
after powerful blasts devastated two nightclubs in Kuta district
last October, killing at least 202 people, mainly foreign
tourists.
"Those who were still alive with severe burns were crying for
help 'please help me, it's very hot, take me to the hospital',"
an emotional Bambang told the judges during the trial of bombing
suspect Amrozi.
He said several of the victims died in his hands. "It was a
disheartening and saddening experience having to witness the
carnage of burning and mutilated bodies."
Bambang led a group of Muslim volunteers to the bombing site
shortly after the blasts, before firefighters and medical aid
arrived.
He ordered members of the Fardhy Kiffayah, a 2,700 strong
burial brigade from Kuta's Istiqomah and Al-Mujahidin mosques to
help him.
They rushed to the site with stretchers and white linen,
helping the wounded and covering up the dead.
Toiling under the intense heat of the fire, the chaos and
working nonstop for hours, Bambang and his men inspired other
locals to join the rescue effort.
The 43-year-old Muslim continued his rescue efforts for some
three weeks, taking out the dead as well as body parts from under
the rubble that once had been the Paddy Club and the Sari Club.
The Oct. 12 Bali bombing on the Hindu-predominantly island was
the largest terrorist strike since the Sept. 11 attacks in New
York and Washington one year back.
Bambang's testimony again reminded the public of the
seriousness of the charges Amrozi is facing. Similar stories of
horror were told by nine other survivors during Monday's
hearings, all of whom are still haunted by the memories.
A village mechanic, Amrozi allegedly helped assemble the bomb,
as well as buying and driving the vehicle which was used for the
bombing. He could receive the death penalty if found guilty.
Police have arrested 29 suspects in connection with the
bombing, and Amrozi is the first to stand trial. The trial of the
alleged masterminds are still pending. The suspects are believed
to be members of the shadowy Jamaah Islamiyah (JI) terrorist
group.
Wednesday's hearing however was slightly interrupted by the
boycott of journalists. The reporters laid down their cameras,
laptops and other equipment on the ground across the main gate in
a bid to get the trial shifted to the Nari Graha building.
They also were protesting against alleged police harassment of
their fellow reporters on Tuesday night at the Ngurah Rai
airport.
Reporters attempted to cover the four Bali bombing suspects
who were flying to Jakarta to testify in the trial of Abu Bakar
Ba'asyir the alleged spiritual leader of JI.
Police reportedly received orders from police officer Brig.
Gen. Gorries Mere to chase away the television and radio
reporters. They were taken to a nearby police stationed and
questioned.